Juan
Vargas
Democratic incumbent U.S. Representative Juan Vargas seeks re-election in California's 52nd District in 2026.
- sources
- 16
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 12
Background
Juan Vargas is the Democratic U.S. Representative for California's 52nd Congressional District, a seat he has held since 2023 (previously representing the 51st District from 2013). Born and raised in National City, California, he earned a B.A. in political science from the University of San Diego (1983), a Master of Humanities from Fordham University (1987), and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (1991). 238
Before his congressional service, Vargas worked with Jesuit communities in El Salvador and as an attorney at Luce, Forward, Hamilton and Scripps. He later served as vice president of external affairs at Safeco Insurance and vice president of corporate legal at Liberty Mutual Group. 8
Vargas has an extensive record in California politics prior to Congress, including service on the San Diego City Council (1993–2000), in the California State Assembly (2000–2006), and in the California State Senate (2010–2012). 38 In Congress, he serves on the House Financial Services Committee. 8
Vargas is the Democratic incumbent seeking re-election in the November 2026 general election for California's 52nd District. 1922
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic · Incumbent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 52, California
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- U.S. Representative for California's 52nd Congressional District
- Website
- votevargas.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Voting record
How Juan Vargas voted in Congress: 118th Congress (2023–24) and 119th Congress (2025–26), Jan 3, 2023 to Sep 16, 2026. From the official House and Senate roll call records.
- roll call votes
- 1,909
- missed
- 2.0%
- with their party’s majority
- 97%
Recent key votes
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · S2403 · Economy & jobsRetire through Ownership ActOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Yes
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HR9497 · Climate & energyWater Resources Development ActOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Yes
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HR9340 · Climate & energyRatepayer Protection ActOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Yes
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HJRES213 · Climate & energyProviding for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the “California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision”On Passage · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)No
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HR10326 · Crime & public safetyPROOF ActOn Passage · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)No
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HR9576 · Crime & public safetyNational Fraud Enforcement Division ActOn Passage · Passed · against their party's majorityOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)No
- Sep 15, 2026 · House · HJRES210 · Climate & energyProviding for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision”On Passage · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)No
- Sep 15, 2026 · House · HR9500 · Taxes & budgetTax Relief for Fraud Victims ActOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Yes
Key votes are final decisions on bills and joint resolutions, and top nominations. Software sorts each into an issue from its official title, so check the roll call. All 1,909 votes →
Timeline
- Date unknownendorsementVargas endorsed by AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Equality California, and others
Voter guide sources list endorsements for Vargas from groups including the AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Equality California, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and San Diego Democrats for Equality. Specific announcement dates for each endorsement were not established in the sources.
Juan Vargas - Candidate Profile · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsCalifornia mail ballots begin going out to voters, including in CA-52
Per the California election schedule, mail-ballot distribution to voters began by October 5, ahead of the November 3 general election in which Vargas faces Jeff Belle.
California 2026 Elections: House Races & Voting Dates · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1endorsementCenter Action Fund includes Vargas in its 2026 midterm general election endorsements
The Center Action Fund published its 2026 midterm general endorsement list, which included Juan Vargas for CA-52.
2026 Midterm General Endorsements - Center Action Fund · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29newsKPBS highlights Vargas's top priorities: Tijuana River pollution, immigration, and affordability
KPBS coverage identified Tijuana River Valley pollution, immigration enforcement, and affordability as Vargas's top campaign priorities, noting his push to fast-track wastewater-treatment infrastructure on both sides of the border and secure more federal funding.
Meet the candidates for US House of Representatives · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsVargas joins colleagues urging DHS to end ICE enforcement near San Diego-area schools
Vargas joined fellow San Diego-area House members and Senators Padilla and Schiff in a letter to DHS demanding an end to ICE activity near schools and college campuses, particularly during arrival and dismissal times, citing disturbing detentions near campuses.
Reps. Vargas, Peters, Jacobs, Levin and Senators Padilla and Schiff ... · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsVargas and Rep. Peters hold Know Your Rights webinar on interacting with ICE
During the week of September 21, Vargas joined Rep. Scott Peters for a virtual Know Your Rights training with local organizations. Vargas stated that everyone has constitutional rights when interacting with ICE or law enforcement regardless of immigration status. Peters's office reported the event on October 1.
ICYMI: Peters, Vargas Hold Know Your Rights Webinar with ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 27filingCalifornia certifies Vargas and Belle as general-election candidates for CA-52
California's certified general-election candidate list officially included Juan Vargas for U.S. House District 52, alongside Republican challenger Jeff Belle.
Juan Vargas (D) — U.S. Representative, CA-52 | 2026 profile · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30newsVargas fundraising snapshot: $568,520 raised, 76% from PACs, $163,676 cash on hand
Campaign finance filings through June 30 showed Vargas had raised $568,520 with $163,676 cash on hand. About 76% of funds came from PACs. KPBS reported over $431,000 from committee contributions, including more than $72,000 from AIPAC.
CA-52 2026 House forecast - FutureBallot · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 2filingVargas wins CA-52 primary with 56.48%, advancing to general election against Jeff Belle
In California's top-two primary, incumbent Democrat Juan Vargas received 56.48% of the vote against Republican Jeff Belle's 33.20%, sending both to the November 3 general election.
CA-52 2026 House forecast - FutureBallot · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- California Labor Federation unionListed by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. Sources do not clarify whether this is the same as the 'California Federation of Labor Unions' named by KPBS. ivoterguide.com
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36 unionListed by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. ivoterguide.com
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund organizationListed by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. ivoterguide.com
- California Young Democrats organizationListed by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. ivoterguide.com
- California Federation of Labor Unions unionNamed by KPBS; no individual endorsement date given. May refer to the same organization listed by iVoterGuide as 'California Labor Federation'. kpbs.org
- American Federation of Government Employees unionNamed by KPBS; no individual endorsement date given. kpbs.org
- UAW Region 2B unionListed by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. ivoterguide.com
- Equality California organizationNamed by KPBS and listed by iVoterGuide; no individual endorsement date given. kpbs.org
- California Teachers Association unionNamed by KPBS; no individual endorsement date given. kpbs.org
- San Diego Democrats for Equality organizationListed for District 52 in the club's 2026 general-election endorsements page; no individual endorsement date given. democratsforequality.org · Oct 6, 2026
- California Federation of Teachers unionListed as 'Juan Vargas*' (asterisk denotes incumbent) for CD 52 in CFT's September 29, 2026 general-election endorsement document. cft.org · Sep 29, 2026
- California Democratic Party organizationListed in the California Democratic Party's August 2026 general-election endorsements PDF for CA-52; also noted by KPBS. cadem.org · Aug 8, 2026
Past elections
General election results for federal office, from the Federal Election Commission.
| Year | Seat | Result | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | U.S. House CA-52 · D | Won | 100,686 | 66.7% |
| 2020 | U.S. House CA-51 · D | Won | 165,596 | 68.3% |
| 2018 | U.S. House CA-51 · D | Won | 109,527 | 71.2% |
| 2016 | U.S. House CA-51 · D | Won | 145,162 | 72.8% |
Covers the 2016 to 2022 general elections. The FEC has not yet published 2024 congressional results.
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $569K
- Spent
- $496K
- Cash on hand
- $164K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H2CA50026(opens in a new tab)
Sources 16
- [1] CA-52 2026 House forecast - FutureBallot(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [2] General Election 2026 Tuesday, November 3 – Page 1(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Juan Vargas - Candidate Profile(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [4] 2026 Endorsements - San Diego Democrats for Equality(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [5] Issues(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [6] 2026 Midterm General Endorsements - Center Action Fund(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [7] ICYMI: Peters, Vargas Hold Know Your Rights Webinar with ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [8] California 2026 Elections: House Races & Voting Dates(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [9] Juan Vargas(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [10] Meet the candidates for US House of Representatives(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [11] Juan Vargas (D) — U.S. Representative, CA-52 | 2026 profile(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [12] Reps. Vargas, Peters, Jacobs, Levin and Senators Padilla and Schiff ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [13] [PDF] 2026 General Election Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Aug 8, 2026
- [14] Q&A: Meet Rep. Juan Vargas, candidate for California’s 52nd Congressional District(opens in a new tab) May 7, 2026
- [15] Rep. Juan Vargas denies receiving AIPAC money, contradicting the ...(opens in a new tab) Apr 22, 2026
- [16] After second Minneapolis killing, San Diego elected officials say ‘Rubicon crossed’ and ICE is ‘executing American citizens’(opens in a new tab) Jan 26, 2026